New trial tests Botox as a treatment for asthma

A new medical trial in Australia is set to test whether Botox can be used to help people with asthma breathe more easily.

Botox is a drug which is most frequently used in cosmetic surgery as it can be injected to paralyse wrinkles and facial lines. The researchers hope the injections, which will be given into the voice box, will allow the muscles to relax and remove the sensation of breathlessness, a common symptom for people with asthma.

30 people with asthma will take part in the trial, which has been designed as a result of finding that people with asthma often suffer problems with their voice boxes as well as their lungs.
 
The trial will begin in the coming months and is due to last a year. The researchers predict that whilst it won’t cure asthma, it may help improve the quality of life for people with the condition.

Read the full original article from The UK Telegraph June 29, 2011 at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8603025/Asthma-sufferers-to-have-Botox-injected-into-voice-box.html

Source:  http://www.european-lung-foundation.org/index.php?id=16534